Sub-Panel and Plug on Same Feed

[JBBJBB]

I currently have a new 50 amp range outlet run from 6/3 Romex in the house. I'd like to also drop in a small lighting sub-panel on the wall behind this outlet but about 10 feet away.

Does anyone know if it is code-legal to T splice into the outlet feed in a junction box with a Polaris IPL 4-3 connector, and then feed the sub-panel from this same feed?

Is it NEC compliant to have an outlet and a sub-panel on the same cable run? Or do I need to splice a new cable extension, run it to the subpanel, and then run a new cable back to the original 50 amp outlet to be in code?

I can't for the life of me find it in the code and I've exhausted my google skills.

 

[mrgm]

need to splice, in j-box, new cable to extend to subpanel, and then run a new cable from new panel back to the original 50 amp outlet

if you just spliced in, you would have your outlet and panel run on same breaker, one would not be sized for the other. you cant run your outlet on larger breaker for use for panel. they need individual breakers

 

[JBBJBB]

Thanks MRGM,

I'm not thinking I would resize the breaker - I don't need larger service, we don't pull much with the range as is. I'd keep it all on a single 50 amp from the main panel, and the sub and outlet could share the 50 amps of capacity (of which they'd probably only pull a max of 30).

I'm more concerned about code compliance of an outlet and subpanel on the same leg.

Any ideas? Any code gurus out there? I'm still scrubbing the 2008 NEC.

 

[RickP]

Why try to combine the range and the subpanel on the same breaker? You're only adding an extra 10 feet of 6-3 Romex, at about $2 per foot. Especially if you're planning to add a subpanel anyway.

The best way to go would be using the existing 6-3 Romex to power the new subpanel - you can go up to a 60A breaker on that circuit in the main panel (CB is $10 or so). Then you can move the current 50A breaker into the subpanel (if you buy the same brand subpanel) and add breakers as needed for other circuits.

Does drywall cover the back of the wall around your range outlet? If so, you'll probably need to make a few holes in the drywall anyway, in order to pull cable over to the new subpanel. Any chance the 6-3 Romex could be moved over to feed the new subpanel directly? If not, you could always add a j-box at the range outlet as MRGM suggested.

You might even be able to use the current j-box, as long as it's deep enough. Regardless, adding a new j-box will probably be the easiest and cheapest part of the project. Since you're already pulling cable over to the new subpanel, it seems that pulling two cables won't be that much harder, and it only adds about $30 to the total cost (with the new 60A breaker).